Sexy

“Sexy” is told in the third person from the point of view of Miranda. In what ways does the narrative reveal and withhold Miranda’s motivations, feelings, and decisions from the reader, and how does this tension drive the story?

What does the story have to say about friendship? Do you think that Miranda and Laxmi have a strong friendship? Why?

Read both edited versions of the story. Identify the variations and discuss how these changes affect the story. Why do you think Lahiri made these edits?

Analyze the ways in which “Sexy” uses language to portray sexual desire, longing and sensory experience.

How does “Sexy” explore marriage, family life, and children including differing cultural expectations?

The narrative explores two extramarital affairs in parallel. What does the story have to say about infidelity?

Consider the ways in which India and Indian culture is experienced, described, or imagined by the characters. How do these details play into the story’s consideration of cultural difference?

As a genre, short stories often have a cyclical structure, centered more on character experience than on plot events. Analyze the structure of “Sexy” and the way that the patterning of imagery supports it.